Push type terminal construction



July 6, 1965 J, H. KREHBIEL PUSH TYPE TERMINAL CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 17, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 &

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PUSH TYPE TERMINAL CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 17 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 6, 1965 J. H- KREH BlEL PUSH 'IYPE TERMINAL CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 17, 1962 United States Patent 3,193,795 PUSH TYPE TERlVilNAL QUNSTRUCTEQN John H. Krehhiel, Eroolrtleld, lit, assignor to li r'oiex Products Company, Broolrtield, Ell, a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 223,859 18 @laims. (Ell. 339-4217} The present invention relates to an improved wire terminal or junction block.

In various places, electrical household appliances such as washing machines being a good example, there is frequently the need to make connection between two or more wires. Such connections normally must be capable of ready connection and disconnection for servicing or replacement of component parts. Hence, it has become common practice to use push-on type connectors. In order to make a connection between two circuits, there is usually provided a U-shaped fixed member onto which terminals respectively on the ends of two different wires maybe pushed. it more than two wires are to be connectedl t hen a different type of fixed member must be provided having three or more portions for receipt of the push-on, connectors. This necessitates the provision of many different types of fixed connector members. This, in turn, frequently necessitates the provision of a variety of insulator boards on which the fixed connector members are mounted. Obviously it is undesirable to have to provide a wide variety of fixed connectors and insulator boards.

Furthermore, in some instances, push-on connectors of the prior art have been prone to come loose through vibration, sometimes due to the short spring construction used, or through an inadvertent pull on a wire. Disadvantages and frequent dangers of this will be readily apparent.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved push-on type of connector, particularly one in which anywhere from two to a great number of circuit wires can readily be connected with the use of but one fixed terminal board.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a push-on type of connector terminal board in which no fixed contacts are necessary.

Another object is to provide means for making a direct electrical connection from one terminal to an adjacent terminal without requiring a third or intermediate electrical conductor. This of course saves space as well as cost.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved terminal board construction wherein one or several circuits may be established without changes in the construction of the terminal board.

A further object of this invention is to provide a terminal board construction having push-on connectors with positive or semi-positive latching, preventing or inhibiting accidental withdrawal for disconnection.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal board constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a push-on type of connector constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the terminal board with several connectors in place therein;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view partially in section taken substantially along the line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 in FIG. 3;

Patented July 6, 1965 FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the manner in which a connector is removed from the terminal board; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of connector;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified terminal board in connection with the connector of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal view through a connection board similar to that in FIG. 8 and showing the connectors of FIG. 7 connected therewith;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another modification of the push-on connector or terminal;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the connector of FIG. 10 in place in a modified terminal board;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of another embodiment of the terminal board; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary plan View of a slight modification of the terminal board of FIG. 12 and a bus bar arrangement therewith.

Referring now in greater particularity to the drawings, and first to FIGS. 2-5, there will be seen a push-on connector or terminal identified generally by the numeral The connector 2% is of sheet metal construction and comprises a flat body or base portion 22 having at its upper extremity a laterally extending arm 24 lying within the plane of the base, and a forwardly extending arm 26 disposed oppositely of the arm 24. The arms 24 and 25 act as limit stops upon insertion of a connector into a terminal block, as will be brought out hereinafter. The arm 26 has an additional function which will be set forth in due time.

The connector has a stem orshanlt 23 extending up from the base or body 22 along the longitudinal center line thereof and coplanar therewith. The stem or shank 28 is provided at its upper end with a pair of initially forwardly extending arms 3d, and with a lower pair of initially forwardly extending arms 32. The arms are designed to be crimped about an electric wire 34. The lower arms 32 are bent or crimped about the extending metallic end of the wire, conventionally copper, and illustrated in the present invention as being stranded at as. The upper arms 3d are bent or crimped tightly about the insulation 38 of the wire mechanically to resist separation of the wire from the connector 2d, while the lower pair of arms 32 makes electrical connection with the wire.

The connector 2% is provided along the longitudinal edges of the base 22 with a pair of flanges 40 each forming an acute angle with the base and in generally confronting relation with one another. The flanges cooperate with a terminal block in a manner hereinafter disclosed and the lower ends thereof are tapered at 42 and rounded at 44 to facilitate insertion, as will be understood.

The connector 7.0 also comprises a re-entrant tongue 46 integral with the base or body 22 and extending downwardly and forwardly at a shallow angle to the plane or" the base 22 as indicated at 48. The tongue reaches an extremity and is rounded over at St) to extend back in an angular elongated portion 52 to a flat contact portion 54- forming a shallow angle with the elongated portion 52. The contact portion 54 is initially at a shallowangle to the base or body 22, but is flexible into parallelism therewith.

Above the contact portion 54, the tongue has a reentrant portion 56 directed back toward the body 22, and terminated at the upper edge by a flange 53 parallel to the contact portion 54, and having a lateral tab 60 along the edge thereof disposed. in parallelism with the arm as, but spaced therefromv To provide such spacing, the edge of the tongue on the side adjacent the arm 26 is tapered at 62 as it progresses up through the elongated portion 52, the contact portion 54, and re-entrant portion 56.

On the side of the elongated portion 52 of the tongue 46 opposite to the tapered side 62, there is provided a locking tang 64. This tang has a tapered under edge 66 forming a shallow angle with the adjacent side of the tongue, and with a substantially right angle upper edge 68 forming a locking shoulder.

The terminal block for cooperation with a plurality of the connectors 2h just described is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-6, and is identified by the numeral 7h. The block comprises a rectangular plate of plastic material having an elongated central opening 72. The shaped of the central opening, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, is of a repeating nature. Thus, starting from the right end of FIG. 4, there is a straight edge 74 disposed transversely of the block 70. From this edge, and symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal center line of the block, there are a pair of straight edges 76 leading into edges 73 of somewhat jug-handle shape and complementary to the flange 40 of the connector. Subsequent to the jug-handle shaped edges 78, the opening or aperture 72 continues with additional straight edges similar to the edges previously identified by the numeral 76, etc., as the pattern repeat to the opposite transverse straight edge 89 (FIG. 1) of the aperture 72 in the block 70.

When it is desired to make a connection from one wire having one of the connectors or terminals 20 crimped thereon, as heretofore disclosed, the connector is simply inserted into an appropriate portion of the aperture 72 in the terminal block 70. For example, consider the rightmost connector 26 in FIGS. 3 and 4. It will be seen that the flanges 40 of the connector Ztl fit along with the outer edges of the base 22 within the jug-handle shaped portion or edge '78 in each instance. The tongue 46 projects forwardly of the base into the next adjacent space between the next adjacent jug-handle edges 73 of the aperture 72. The arm 24 (see particularly FIGS. 3 and forms a limit stop to prevent the connector from being pushed too far into, or even through the aperture 72 in the terminal block 70. As further will be seen, the tang 64 projects out beneath the terminal block 70 to prevent unauthorized withdrawal of the connector and the wire gripped thereby. During insertion, the shallow beveled edge 66 of the tang cams against the corresponding portion of the terminal block and deflects the tongue 46 to one side. If it is desired to withdraw the connector and wire, then a pair of pliers 82 (see FIG. 6) is used to grip the arm 26 and the flange or tab 66, whereby to deflect the tongue 46 to one side, thereby moving the tang 64 clear of the terminal block to allow withdrawal of the connector 20 as the pliers are pulled back while gripping the arm 26 and tab or flange 60.

When it is desired to connect a second wire and connector to the first, the second connector is similarly inserted in the next adjacent jug-handle section of the terminal block aperture. For example, consider the next to the rightmost connector in FIGS. 3 and 4. Upon such insertion, the contact portion 54 resiliently bears against the base 22 of the rightmost connector, due to the initial tendency of the tongue to project resiliently away from the base 22 of the connector of which the tongue forms a part. Thus, electrical connection is established between the two adjacent wires. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, connection is made among five wires. One of these is used as entering the terminal block from the bottom, thereby illustrating the fact that the wires and connectors can approach the terminal block from either side. The electrical contact between adjacent connectors is the same regardless of the up or down orientation of the connectors.

From the foregoing discussion of FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be apparent that one terminal and wire could be omitted, for example, the one approaching from the bottom in FIG. 3, whereby two separate circuits are established between the adjacent and contacting terminals or connectors and their respective wires. Similarly, if the two leftmost and two rightmost connectors of FIGS. 3 and 4 were in place, and it were desired to establish electrical contact among them without adding a fifth wire, then it would be a simple matter to insert a connector, such as the connector inserted from below in FIG. 3, with no wire attached thereto. Obviously, large numbers of permutations and combinations of circuits can be connected with the terminals heretofore disclosed and the single terminal board without the necessity of providing special fixed contacts on the terminal board, and in fact without providing any fixed contacts on the terminal board.

As will be apparent, the complementary shape of the flanges 46} and adjacent edge sections of the base 22 with the jug-handle edges of the terminal block aperture 72 prevents the terminals or connectors from being inserted backwards in the terminal block. That is to say, the bases 22 will always be in position to be contacted by the contact areas 54 of adjacent connectors.

A modification of the invention is shown in FIGS. 7-9. Similar numerals with the addition of the suffix a are utilized to identify similar parts, and repetition of description is largely eliminated. Structural details which are different are set forth in some particularity, and it will be seen that at the top of the base or body 22a there are r-earwardly extending arms 24a and 26a which serve as limit stops upon insertion. The base or body 22a is provided with a longitudinal stiffening rib 84, and the elongated tongue portion 52a is of somewhat convex-concave configuration for stiffness in this portion of the tongue. No stil'i'eners are provided at the rounded lower end or nose 5%, whereby the tongue readily flexes at this position.

The upper end of the tongue is provided with forwardly directed flanges 86 along its opposite edge, and having arcuate leading edges These edges 83 form the contacting area engageable with the back of the body 22a of another adjacent connector, as best seen in FIG. 9. Tabs 963 are struck out of the flanges 86 and extend oppositely from one another. The shape of the aperture 72!: in the block 7th: is slightly different. Again starting at the right end, there is a transverse edge 74a, and leading longitudinallytherefrom in symmetrical relation to the center line are straight edges 76a. From this point, the edges go out transversely at 92 and then longitudinally at @4, and subsequently transversely out again at 96 to longitudinal edge portions 9%. Transverse edges ldtl then lead back into a repetition of the shape just described.

The base 22a and flanges 40a are received in the space defined by edge portions 96, 98 and 1th). The ,tabs bear against the edge portions 92, thus limiting outward movement of the tongues, and also frictionally engaging the edge portions 96. Such frictional engagement, and also frictional engagement of the edges of the base 22a with the edge portions serve to retain the connectors Zita in place in the terminal block.

As is illustrated at the right port-ion of FIG. 8, the tongue and the recess provided by the edge portions 92 and 94 serves as a keying means to prevent reversed insertion of a terminal or connector. As shown in the dashed lines, the tongue will not clear an edge portion 76a, and hence reversed insertion cannot be made.

The function of the terminal or connector and the cooperation thereof with the junction block of FIGS. 7-9 is similar to that previously described. The curved edges 33 of the flanges 86 make a line or point contact which is sometimes advantageous when rather low currents are being carried. Conversely, the fiat contacting area 54 of FIGS. 2-6 is preferred when large currents are to be carried.

A further modification of the invention is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and similar parts are identified by use of similar numerals, this time with the addition of the suffix b. The embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 1-1 is functionally similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 3, etc., and includes a flat base or body 22b with laterally extending arms 24b and 261; along the upper edge serving as limit stops upon insertion. There is no discrete tongue providing a con-.

tacting area, but the flanges 4012 are provided along their longitudinal edges with confronting coplanar flanges forming together a contacting area 542). The flanges 40b are provided at their lower extremities with protuberances 102 affording external shoulders 104 which lock beneath the terminal block as will be seen in FIG. 11. As will be observed, the shoulders 16M are oblique, and the terminals of FIGS. and 11 therefore can be withdrawn with a pull of sufiicien-t force, exceeding normal tugs which might tend to loosen a terminal. Function of the terminal or connector of FIGS. 10 and 11 is similar to that in FIGS. 2 and 3, etc., as previously described, and the contact areas 54b engage the backs of respectively adjacent bodies or bases 22b.

In the embodiments of the invention heretofore shown and described, each connector has had a back surface thereof engaged by an adjacent front surface of another connector. A slightly different type of engagement is contemplated as illustrated in FIG. 12, and this modification of the invention is particularly well adapted to bussing as is illustrated in FIG. 13. Many of the aspects of the invention as shown in FIG. 12 are substantially identical with those previously discussed, and similar nu- Tnerals again are used with the addition of the sufiix c.

The. terminal board or junction block 760 is illustrated as having several apertures 72c therein. Each aperture is comprised of a plurality of pairs of recesses, with the recesses on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the aperture offset longitudinally. Specifically, and starting with the right end of the upper left aperture, there is a transverse straight edge 74c leading up from the longitudinal center line in the position shown. There is then a longitudinal straight line 76c, and an offset transverse edge or line 920, followed by a longitudinal edge portion 940. The edge then comes back in as a transverse edge portion 106 to a longitudinal edge portion 10%; which is a continuation of the edge portion 760. The pattern then repeats moving to the left, as will be appreciated. All of this is above the longitudinal center line, and it will be seen that below the longitudinal center line, the recess starts off with a transverse edge portion llltl. The recess, moving to the left, then continues as an offset, mirror image of the portions heretofore described.

The terminals or connectors c are respectively received in position facing the longitudinal center line. The terminals may be identical with those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, but preferably omitting the locking tang 4 and releasing tab 60, and having a longitudinal stiffening rib 340 down the back serving as a key with corresponding recess of the aperture. Thus, as readily will be seen in FIG. 12, the contact areas corresponding to the contact areas 540 overlap one another in face to face engagement. The connectors may be installed in face to face arrangement in a great many permutations and combinations, although it will be observed that in some instances the first two connectors will have to be installed at the same time whereby mutually to support one another in the recesses.

As observed, the arrangement of FIG. 12 is well adapted to bussing, and in FIG. 13 a fragment of a terminal block 79d is shown, other parts being the same as in FIG. 12 and identified by similar numerals with the addition of the suffix d. A recess 112 is provided in the face of the block adjacent one end of the recess 72d. An apertured tab 114 is inserted in the recess, and is held in place by means such as a screw 3116. At right angularly disposed elongated metallic strip llllS integral with the tab extends along the longitudinal center line of the aperture 720! and is in position for engagement by each and every connector or terminal received in proper position in a corresponding portion of the aperture. As will be appreciated, electrical connection can be made through the bus strip 118 by a terminal inserted beneath the head of the screw 116, although'this is not at all necessary since d it is preferred that all contacts be made by means of connectors or terminals of the type disclosed herein.

It will now be appreciated that I have disclosed an improved connector or terminal which is of the push-on (or push-in) variety, wherein no fixed terminal is necessary for cooperation. Hence, large numbers of combinations of wires can be established without the necessity of warehousing a vast number of different fixed connectors.

Various structural changes will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art, and these will be understood as forming a part of the present invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the illustrative embodiments herein thereby being considered exemplary only.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A push type terminal construction comprising insulating base means having a predetermined thickness and having a shaped opening therein, said shaped opening having a continuous periphery transverse to said thickness and comprising a repeating pattern of like recesses each adapted to receive a terminal, and a plurality of like terminals plugged into said opening, each terminal being longer than said predetermined thickness and extending from said base means in at least one direction, each of said terminals being received in one of said recesses, each such terminal being in direct physical and electrical engagement with at least one other of said terminals.

2. A push type terminal construction comprising insulating base means having a predetermined thickness and having a shaped opening therein comprising an aperture extending completely through said insulating base means and having a continuous periphery transverse of said thickness, and a plurality of like terminals plugged into said opening, each terminal being longer than said predetermined thickness and extending from saidbase means in at least one direction, each said terminal having a stop thereon engageable with said base means to limit insertion of a terminal in said insulating base means, each said terminal being in direct physical and electrical engagement with at least one other of said terminals.

3. A push type terminal construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein each terminal has a protuberance thereon engaging behind said base means to resist retraction of said terminals.

4. A push type terminal construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein the protuberance has an oblique portion engageable with said base means, said terminals thereby being retractable upon exertion of sufiicient force to cam the protuberances past said base means.

5. A push type terminal construction comprising insulating base means having a shaped opening therein and a plurality of like terminals plugged into said opening, each said terminal being of elongated construction and having means projecting laterally therefrom limiting insertion of a terminal in said base means, each said terminal further including a flange along each'longitudinal edge, said flanges being bent into substantially confronting relation and having at their leading portions oppositely disposed protuberances adapted to lock behind portions of said insulating base means to resist retraction of the terminals, each of said terminals being in direct physical and electrical engagement with at least one other of said terminals.

6. A push type terminal construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein the terminals each have means for retracting the locking protuberance.

7. A push type terminal construction comprising insulating base means having a shaped opening therein and a fixed part adjacent said opening, and a plurality of like terminals plugged into said opening, each such terminal having a base portion and a re-entrant flexible tongue, each tongue having a projection thereon locking behind a portion of said insulating base means to resist retraction of the terminal, each such tongue having said portion disposed opposite a fixed part of said terminal base and adapted to be squeezed toward said fixed part for retraction of said projection from locking position for retraction of the terminal, each of said terminals being in direct physical and electrical engagement with at least one other of said terminals.

8. A push type terminal construction as set forth in claim 7 wherein the projection is disposed on one side of said tongue, and wherein the tongue is deflected laterally for retraction thereof.

9. A push type terminal construction as set forth in claim 8 wherein the oppositely disposed portion extends from said tongue transverse to the locking projection and wherein the cooperating fixed part of the base means comprises a portion parallel thereto.

10. A push type terminal construction comprising insulating base means having a shaped opening therein, said opening being symmetrical about its longitudinal center line and comprising a succession of like recesses in mirror image relation about said center line, and a plurality of like terminals plugged into said opening, each terminal being received in a pair of oppositely disposed recesses and portions thereof lying on opposite sides of the center line of the opening, terminals in successive recesses being in direct physical and electrical engagement with one another.

11. A push type terminal construction as set forth in claim 10 wherein each terminal has a flexible re-entrant tongue in substantially surface engagement with an adjacent terminal.

12. A push type terminal construction as set forth in claim 10 wherein each terminal has a pair of flanges respectively disposed along its longitudinal edges and in confronting relation with one another, said flanges forming a surface engagement with an adjacent terminal.

13. A push type terminal construction as set forth in claim 10 wherein each terminal has a flexible resilient tongue with a plurality of edge flanges extending substan tially normally therefrom and forming edge engagement with an adjacent terminal.

14. A push type terminal construction comprising insulating base means having a shaped opening therein, said shaped opening being similar on opposite sides of a longitudinal center line of the opening and of mirror image relation but offset longitudinally of said center line, there being a plurality of repeating recesses on each side of said longitudinal center line and those on one side of the center line being offset by a fraction of the dimension of a recess in the direction of said longitudinal center line whereby the recesses on opposite sides of the center line overlap one another by substantially half, and a plurality of like terminals plugged into said opening and each re- 53 ceived in a recess and lying substantially on one side of the longitudinal center line, each said terminal being in direct physical and electrical engagement with at least one other of said terminals on the other side of the longitudinal center line.

15. A push type terminal construction as set forth in claim 14 and further including a bus bar, said bus bar comprising a strip of conductive material extending along the longitudinal center line of the opening and having means at one end thereof detachably securing said bus bar strip to said insulating base means.

16. A push type terminal construction comprising a base, means integral with said base for attachment to a wire, a re-entrant flexible tongue extending from said base and back into proximity therewith, a lateral projection on said tongue adapted to lock said terminal in inserted position in a complementary connector structure, a projection from the surface of said tongue, and a projection from said base disposed opposite the tongue projection, such last mentioned two projections being movable toward one another with a pinching action thereon to retract said locking projection to allow withdrawal of said terminal.

17. A push type terminal construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said like terminals comprise a metallic base member having structure extending therefrom adapted for attachment to a wire, a pair of oppositely disposed flanges on the longitudinal edges of said base, and means flexibly supported from said base and movable toward and away therefrom for effecting contact with another member, said means including a continuation of at least one of said flanges.

18. A push type terminal as set forth in claim 17 wherein the flanges are at an acute angle to said base and form a rounded connection therewith.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 332,336 12/85 Fee 339-176 X 1,995,115 3/35 Douglas 339-258 2,319,122 4/43 Funk 339-213 2,715,215 8/55 Flora 339-258 X 2,891,103 6/59 Swengel.

2,979,689 4/61 Jackson et al. 339-217 2,980,878 4/61 Swengel 339-217 X 3,015,083 12/61 Iuris 339-217 X FOREIGN PATENTS 718,003 11/54 Great Britain.

OSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PUSH TYPE TERMINAL CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING INSULATING BASE MEANS HAVING A PREDETERMINED THICKNESS AND HAVING A SHAPED OPENING THEREIN, SAID SHAPED OPENING HAVING A CONTINUOUS PERIPHERY TRANSVERSE TO SAID THICKNESS AND COMPRISING A REPEATING PATTERN OF LIKE RECESSES EACH ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A TERMINAL, AND A PLURALITY OF LIKE TERMINALS PLUGGED INTO SAID OPENING, EACH TERMINAL BEING LONGER THAN SAID PREDETERMINED THICKNESS AND EXTENDING FROM SAID BASE MEANS IN AT LEAST ONE DIRECTION, EACH OF SAID TERMINALS BEING RECEIVED IN ONE OF SAID RECESSES, EACH SUCH TERMINAL BEING IN DIRECT PHYSICAL AND ELECTRICAL ENGAGEMENT WITH AT LEAST ONE OTHER OF SAID TERMINALS. 